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Rules

W.H.S.A.

The World Heritage Site Award Project

PURPOSES

The aim of the W.H.S. Award is to increase the knowledge of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the world through Amateur Radio activities. The Radio Amateurs will activate the objects or the sites according with the reference list just staying in the place where these references are and driving an activity just making 2-way contacts with other Amateur Radio Stations.

Since the W.H.S. references are of various nature, the criteria of the proximity will be quite wide. For references like territories or landscapes the operators have to stay in the area or sub-area detected by the UNESCO and / or by the W.H.S. list. For references like monuments the operators have to stay as close as possible to the activated objects. In some cases the nature of the objects could advice to the operators to not stay too much close to the object, e.g. in case these activities could hurt the sensibility or the religion of the neighbour people. In these cases the activators must evaluate very well if the activity could be possible and the distance to keep to avoid any possible problem with the people. Anyway these activations have the purpose to promote the knowledge of the interested sites and the activators will have the maximum respect for the objects and the history related to them. If the references are islands, the activators and their equipment must be on the island.

Every activity should be supported by an adequate multi-media documentation about the activated reference, to be published on a proper web site in way to be accessible to all the people. We will encourage the quality of the activations instead of the number of them, so every activity must be accomplished in a time not less than two hours, and no more than one activity will be authorized per day. Aim of the Activators should be to put in the log the max number of contacts, but to be valid, an activity must log at least 100 different callsigns.

CRITERIA

References are based on the official list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Since they are of different nature: cultural, natural and mixed, it has been necessary to adopt some criteria to identify the references. For Natural Sites we looked at the extension of the territory and gave one or more references according with the multiple locations defined in the Web Site http://whc.unesco.org if present. If not present we gave one or more reference looking at the map of inscribed zone at best of our knowledge and after to have got info from the web. As example the Loire Valley in France consists in a huge area, so we divided the river in eight sections. In some cases the number of the references is not the same as the locations defined in the UNESCO Web Site. As example the Dolomites in Italy appear with 9 locations: we gave a reference to each element present in these 9 location inscribed in the area defined by UNESCO map.

For cultural sites the adopted criteria was that of the number of separate objects and/or areas belonging to that site. When possible we based the individuation of the references on the UNESCO Web Site, as well as the cultural sites. Of course we adopted the same method for mixed sites.

This work results in a list of objects or areas characterized by a code made with the letters WH (World Heritage) followed by the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code and three numbers, e.g. for Italy: IT001, IT002, etc. For Germany DE001, DE002, etc. For Great Britain GB001, GB002, etc. In some cases the references can be outside the main territory of the States, and be as example in their overseas territories, when these territories don’t have a proper ISO code. The list will report also the official UNESCO Ref. code. This is not the first time that some World Heritage Site are used for a Radio Award: the Russians have an Award based on Natural Heritage Sites only. This project instead will use ALL the Sites, natural and cultural ones.

THE LIST

As described, the list we made is comprehensive of all World Heritage Sites, but of course it can be modified if that will be necessary. Of course we know the situation of our territory and other Radio Amateur Associations know their situations better than us. That introduces another aspect of this Award: it will be supranational, as we will ask the collaboration of the Radio Amateur Associations of the world to collaborate to this project. Of course we will start here in Italy and in Europe with our neighbours. For requests of inclusion of new references or modification/deletion of existing ones, please write to: ik2uvr@aribusto.it

SPONSOR

With these purposes we asked to UNESCO to be the main Sponsor of this project, giving us the right to use the WHC official logo for our activities, for QSL cards (that are the evidence of the contact), and for all the ways to promote the activities. This partnership will give to the WHSA an importance worldwide. At this time this request is still pending.

RULES of the W.H.S.A.

The A.R.I. and the Radio Amateur Associations worldwide that participate to this project present to all Radio Amateurs and SWL of the world the World Heritage Sites Award, with the purpose to promote the knowledge of the Sites that UNESCO declared Heritage of the Mankind.

Based on the UNESCO official list a reference list has been written. Each reference in the list can be activated by Radio Amateurs in possession of a valid license and in accordance with the laws of their Countries. The code of the references is made with the letters WH (World Heritage), hyphen, the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code of the Country followed by three numbers, e.g. WH-GB001 (Great Britain), WH-HR005 (Croatia), WH-CN023 (China) and so on. The list is published on the W.H.S.A. web site and constantly updated following the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.

To get the right to receive the Basic Award the hunters can get at least 10 (ten) 2-way contacts with the activators (of course from 10 different references). The evidence of these contacts are the logs of the activators. SWL’s can get the Award with only 5 HRDs, (5 different references) but they must be in possession of the confirms (either paper or electronic) for these HRD’s. A picture of each of them must be sent with the Application form and GRC list. The Award is free and will be sent to the applicants as PDF file. No one is allowed to ask money for W.H.S.A. Level advances are provided each 100 references worked. (WHSA-100, WHSA-200, and so on).

Activators:

The W.H.S.A. activities must be done within the area called “core zone” of the reference (if it is a natural site) or in proximity of the object if the reference is an object or a group of objects. There is not a distance limit within to conduct an activity. If there’s no possibility to access the “core zone”, operators can make their activities within the “buffer zone” (see the UNESCO maps for details, please). In case of objects the activities should be made as close as possible, we advice inside 500m, but since some Heritage Sites can have religious meaning or the presence of persons with radio gear could hurt the sensibility of the neighbour people, or some sites cannot be accessed, the distance where to install the radio station is left to the activators‘ judgment. Never the activities will have to cause problems with the people staying in these sites. If the references are islands, the activators and their equipment must be on the island. Sites without land, like marine oasis, have not been listed as references of the Award.

Only one activity is permitted per day. Multi-day activities are encouraged, to give the possibility of a QSO/HRD to as many OM/YL/SWL as possible. Each operation must last not less than two hours, from first to last logged QSO. For multi-operator activities the time of two hours should be considered as a whole. Multi-operator activities are those in which are involved two or more operators, operating one or more transceivers, and using only just one callsign for the whole activity. Of course the credits will be assigned to that callsign. Different operators activating the same reference with different callsigns will be considered as separated activities even if made on same period of time. To be validate, each activity must log at least 100 different callsigns.

Both portable operations (field operations) and based operations are allowed, but residents will have their score divided by 2 (see Bands, modes and points). Residents must attach a KMZ file of Google Earth to prove their station is within the area of the reference. If the reference is an object, they must send two KMZ files: one indicating the position of the object and another one indicating the position of the based station, that must be at no more than 500 meters from the object. Every based operation (e.g. from holidays houses) is considered as residential. For the definition of the areas and their limits please see the maps at http://whc.unesco.org

The residential activities must have a beginning and an end. In other words, the residents cannot give the reference to all their correspondents at any time, but only during scheduled operations lasting not less than two hours and no more than 30 days.

Same reference can be activated by same activator once in a solar year. In case the activator does not reach the prescribed number of 100 different callsigns during the activation he can finish it within 30 days from the date of first QSO logged.

Activators shall accompany their activities with an appropriate photo/video reportage. The documentation will be published in the W.H.S.A. web site www.whsa.info Activators always must remember the purpose of this Award is to improve the knowledge of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites among the Radio Amateurs and the Visitors of the W.H.S.A. web site.

Activations don’t need any permission unless the activator has to access to a private or restricted area. In this case he must get the permission by the owner or by the authorities. No pirate operations will be validated. Activations declared as QRP are not allowed.

Announcing of the activities through the forums will be very appreciated.

Activator’s Awards:

When an Activator reaches the total score of 1000 points gains the right to be awarded with the Special WH Activator’s Award.

Bands, modes and points:

All HF bands assigned to Radio Amateur Service, from 160m to 10m, can be used, according with the License owned and the laws of the Country where the activity was made.

The allowed modes are: SSB, CW, RTTY (Baudot) and PSK31, last two called Digimodes. PSK is ONLY PSK31.

To be validate, for each activity at least 100 different callsigns must be logged, unregarding bands and modes, but each QSO has a different value, as follows:

QSO:

With same Country

With same Continent

With other Continents

On SSB

1

2

3

On Digimodes

2

3

4

On CW

3

4

5

(The definitions of Country and Continent are those of the ARRL for the DXCC Award. Turkey is always Asia, Russian Oblasts UA9F/G and UA9X are Europe)

This is to encourage the use of the CW during the activity, World Heritage itself, but no restrictions at all: each activator can use the mode(s) and the band(s) he/she wishes. Each station can be worked once per band and per mode. We encourage to use at least 2 bands.

The score of the activity is the sum of the QSO-points.

The Official Ranking of the Activators, published in the W.H.S.A. web site, won’t be in order of number of activations but in order of score.

After the end of an activity, Activators must claim the validation of their activity.

They must download and fill the Report Sheet and send this Report sheet, their log as ADIF file and one or two photos to ik2uvr@aribusto.it . Warning: the ADIF file must contain at least these fields: <CALL>, <QSO_DATE>, <TIME_ON>, <MODE>, <BAND> (or <FREQ>), <DXCC>. Be careful the value of tag <MODE> in your ADIF file is exactly as shown: SSB or CW or RTTY or PSK31. Neither USB nor LSB, nor PSK63 or faster (modes not allowed). Activators must also send one/two photo taken during the activity of light size (e.g. 800 x 600 or 1200 x 900 pixels) Please DO NOT SEND heavy images, resize them to 800 x 600 or 1200 x 900 pixels. Short videos (AVI, MP4) can be published on You Tube by the Activators.

Portable Operations:

For portable operations at least one photo must show the radio station setup. A KMZ file showing the position on Google Earth of the reference will be greatly appreciated.

Based Operations:

For based operations are mandatory:

a) if the Reference is an object: a KMZ file showing the position of the radio station and a KMZ file showing the position of the Reference, in order to demonstrate the distance between the based station and the reference did not exceed the 500m.

b) if the reference is an area: a KMZ file indicatong the position of the based station, demonstrating it was inside this area.

The files can be uploaded through the same way in the Expeditioner page. The various file should be renamed with the reference code followed by the extension, in this way:

Log: WHcode.adi (e.g. WH-AT001.adi);

KMZs: WHcode.kmz (e.g. WH-AT001.kmz) for the reference and WHcode_stn.kmz for the based station (e.g. WH-AT001_stn.kmz);

The JPG files should be packed all together as compressed file in ZIP or RAR mode. Please be sure the complex size of the archive you are going to send does not exceed the 2 MB otherwise the system won’t accept it. Photos can be easily resized with common programs. Send the material toik2uvr@aribusto.it

The AVI files should be uploaded on You Tube instead of this site. Please just send us the link to publish.

If an activation has been accomplished by more than one operator using more than one callsign, the Logs must be sent separately for each callsign used, whenever other material (KMZs, photos /video) can be sent once for all members of the expedition.

Although not mandatory for the recognition of the QSO, the QSL card is an important part of HAM radio activities. The activators are required to respond to the QSL received in the ways and within the time they deem appropriate. Activators must finish an activation before to start another one.

The log, the photos and the Report Sheet must be sent within one month from the end of the activity to the WHSA Manager. Sending the material, activators allow its publication on this Site and the publication of their data (Callsign and name, score) in the Rankings on this or other web sites

Penalties:

The activities WHSA are a serious matter and there are obligations to fulfill, both during and after the activity. Submitting the documents out of time or submitting them incomplete, or not submitting them at all, could result in an invalidation of the activity and in a warning to the activator.

The activators already warned that will get another invalidation may be suspended for a specified time by the Award Manager. In this case they cannot make any more WHSA activities during the time of the suspension. More severe cases of violation of the rules and / or ethical standards and behavior of radio amateurs will ultimately result in the disqualification of the activator.

The Manager of this Award is Pier Luigi Anzini, IK2UVR, Official Award Manager of the A.R.I., the Italian Association of Radio Amateurs